Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-04-06
THE BUTTERFLY BRIDE.
Elfrie Saybrooke is Taught that she
has a Heart.

itaS u 1eaFts
II don't like you'll wish had never
married you!" cried Elfrie Saybrooke
passionately. 'Let go of my handl
don't want you to come near mel"
She was only sixteen, this beautiful
passionate young creature with tn,
blue, glittering eyes and red lips anC
hair like golden mist-and Colonel Say
brooke looked down upon her will
grave astonishment. Elfrie had Otter
been in :.'temper" with him, but never
one like this.
aElfriel"
Don't call me Elfriel don't look al
me-" she sobbed. "You don't love mt
You wont let me go to the opera with
Ralph Eytinge!"
mo. Elfrie, butt
Il want to go home to mamma.
wish had never left mamma. You
are too old and cross and sour for mel
Elfrie raved on in her ecstacy Of
childish anger, never for an instant
noticing the stern, settled pallor that
had come over her husbands face. He
rang the bell.
''Send the close carriage round to the
door, Hammond. Your mistress wish
es to go to her mother's."
He sat silent ami sorrowful after she
had gone.
''She is right" he suddenly exclaim-
ed. II ought never to have married
her. L am too old, too grave, too
dreamy. She is thing of light and
air and sunshine-and if have done
her injustice in forcing her into an I'M
equal match may God pardon me- -
Elfre was sitting ready shawled and
wrapped up, waiting for the carriage
to bring her home that evening, when
Mr.. Fortescue, the old family lawyer,
dropped in. Elfrie started up, pale and
trembling, for there was a nameleSs
something in Mr.. Fortescue's face.
''Oh, Mr.. Fortescue. what is it?
Something has happenen to Hyde? He
is ill-perhaps dead!'
"Neitler one nor the other, my dear
child" said the old man. ''I am mere
ly the bearer Of a note from your hus-
band"
And breaking open the sealed missive
Elfrie read that Hyde Saybrooke, weary
Of the perpetual commotion of his do
mestic circle, and painfully conscious
that there existed disparity between
himself and his beautiful young bride,
in other and more serious respects than
that of age, had decided to leave her..
And Elfrie sank white and senseless
to the floor. She had had her way. She
was back once more in the home of her
girlhood, freed from every shackle ex-
cept that of name, while Hyde Say
brooke's money made 4 sort of golden
halo about her footsteps. Yet-such is
the Inconsistency of womau-she was
, ''Elfrie," said her mother, gravely,
some time later. II don't know what
to make of you. You are not a bit
siizc yourSelf."
n hope I never shall be, mamma, :"
said Elfrie, with slight shudder. "My
old self, as you call it, broke a noble
heart and darkened my nature-let me
now study for a new SELF
Mys. Percy, who Vas a gay widow
with certain shallowness of nature
which Elfrie fortunately had not IN
herited, shrugged her shoulders.
Its pity you hadn't found it out
before"
Elfrie burst into passionate tears and
hid her face in her hands. Alas! was
she not daily and hourly becoming
more cogniZant of the fact embodied in
her mothers words?
Young Mrs. Saybrooke attended no
more parties, went TO 10 more balls,
operas nor concerts, but moved like
gentle young Sister of Mercy through
scenes of trial, woe and suffering. Her
soul was daily becoming refined in the
alchemic fires of self-denial and charity
and Hyde Saybrooke would scarcely
have known his butterfly bride now.
Il told her how it would be.'' cried
Mrs. Percy, fretfully. ''Poking about
in those hasty tenement-houses where
nobody ever goes but the tax-coliectorS
and the missionaries, and now she's
down with the feYer.'
A film came over Mr.. Foftescue's
eyes. ''She has followed in her Mas.
ter's footsteps, he said solemnly. land
if it leads her to the very gates of the
grave who shall dare to murmur?"
But there came a time when the
angel Azrael folded his pinions across
he threshold and then there was a new
at Elfrie's bedside; one who
never tired out, neither grew weary,
for the might of love upheld him! And
at last she opened her eyes, pale, en-
lciated and weak rs an infant, but
with the burning fever gone.
Mammal she murmured family,
II have had such a sweet dreaml 1t
seemed to me that Hyde was beside me,
pressing my hand, whispering to me!
Oh, if l could have died then! Oh,
Hyde! my husband!n
'sElfriei''
He was bending over her, his dark,
sad eyes looking into hers.
81 meant only to see you once and
hen to go-but, Elfrie, could not
cave until | knew that you were safe!';
Dearest, you must never leave me-"
sile uttered: 81 have learned to value
md love you at last. Oh, my husband,
t is like welcoming you back from the
gravel"